Travel & tech journalist from New Delhi, India

Metal Mayhem (Maxim)

Get out your rocker denims and air out those leather jackets because it’s time to pay your respects to the Gods of metal by going on a pilgrimage. Black metal, power metal, thrash metal… just about any genre you can name, you’ll find ’em all, in one place, and on the same day. Can’t beat that, can you?

Wacken Open Air

To card-carrying members of the metal militia, Wacken is the ultimate arena, a modern-day Valhalla where leather-clad warriors meet to raise hell. Three days of camping, meeting your ‘metal family’ and L.O.U.D metal. Last year, they even laid down a pipeline to make sure there was enough beer for the hordes of fans who came to see around 180 acts—including the father of shock-rock, Alice Cooper, German thrash legends, Kreator, local favs, Accept, fantasy metal supergroup, Avantasia, melodic death metal gurus, Amon Amarth, and of course, the one and only Megadeth.

Download Festival

NEXT UP: 8-10 AUGUST, 2018WHERE: UNITED KINGDOMFIND OUT MORE: DOWNLOADFESTIVAL.CO.UKThink of Download as a multi-day party. Sure, you do find loads of metal acts (2017’s lineup included Slayer and Rob Zombie), but Download’s also known for inviting ‘mainstream’ rock acts like Biffy Clyro, and even legends like Aerosmith. And that’s not quite it. You’ll also find live wrestling at the WWE stage, along with stand-up comedy and circus performers at the Side Splitter stage. There’s also a stage dedicated to punk and alt-rock, and even a couple for up-and-coming bands. Still not sure if you want to head there next year? You’ll be missing out big time, that’s what we say, especially considering one of the headliners is Ozzy Osbourne.